Chapter 717: Mysterious Purple-Clothed Woman, Saintess of the Hundred Flowers Palace

Looking at the "Chiyan Market" not far ahead, one of the young women dressed in purple turned around and said softly with a hint of respect:

"This place should be the Song family's Chiyan Market that they mentioned. Senior Sister, I will go to the market first to inquire and see if I can find someone to ask about the situation first!"

Hearing the purple-clothed woman's words, the other white-clothed woman wearing a veil who came with her did not speak, only nodded slightly with a calm face, agreeing to the other party's proposal.

Subsequently, this purple-clothed woman restrained her cultivation, disguised herself as an ordinary Qi Condensation cultivator, and walked toward the distant "Chiyan Market" alone.

Although the Song family's "Chiyan Market" would check and register the information of cultivators entering and leaving, this move was only aimed at those notorious bandits and demonic cultivators outside, and they would not turn away strange cultivators from outside.

After the purple-clothed woman reported a name at the entrance, she was brought to a second-tier formation at the entrance and was only allowed to enter the market after passing through there.

This formation was refined by Song Qingming after he returned from the "Donghuang Kingdom" cultivation world. It could detect the demonic energy hidden in a cultivator's body and distinguish some people who cultivated demonic techniques.

It was a method Song Qingming learned in "Xianyuan City" back then. Although it could not completely identify those demonic cultivators with higher cultivation in the Foundation Establishment stage, it was still somewhat useful for demonic cultivators in the Qi Condensation stage.

Ever since this formation was installed in "Chiyan Market," in less than five years, the market law enforcement team had caught more than a dozen cultivators who had secretly learned demonic techniques.

This also made those low-tier demonic cultivators hiding near Qinghe County terrified and afraid to approach places guarded by Song family cultivators, and they moved their cave dwellings away from the vicinity of the Song family's territory one after another.

"This Song family still has some knowledge, actually knowing to set up a demon-repelling formation in the market. It seems that Senior Sister was right; they are indeed not like ordinary Jin Dan immortal clans."

The purple-clothed woman who entered the market muttered to herself, then inquired in the market, and subsequently came to a shop in the middle of the market street called "Yuxin Pavilion."

This shop was located in the central prosperous area of the entire market, and the business was surprisingly good. There were many cultivators coming and going in the shop, and there were five or six shop assistants just to entertain guests.

"Hehe! Guest, what spirit items do you want to buy? Our shop has pills, spirit talismans, magic treasures, everything. The quality and price are absolutely guaranteed."

Before the purple-clothed woman could see the situation in the shop clearly, an old man in the late stage of Qi Condensation took the initiative to greet her and entertained her very enthusiastically, treating her as a new guest.

Seeing this shopkeeper, the purple-clothed woman said softly: "I want to buy some pills of relatively good quality. Can you take me to a quieter place?"

"Oh! Guest, please follow me to the second floor. Just say whatever requirements you have slowly."

Before long, the purple-clothed woman was led by the shopkeeper to a secret room on the second floor.

"Guest, it is just the two of us here. Just say directly what pills you want. Please rest assured, our shop only does business and never asks guests about other things."

Hearing the shopkeeper's question, the purple-clothed woman did not rush to say anything about pills but looked up at the other party.

At this moment, the purple-clothed woman's originally very normal eyes suddenly became somewhat eerie purple. The shopkeeper of "Yuxin Pavilion" felt somewhat surprised when he saw this scene.

However, before he could react, a strange force made him unable to move in place, and he could not even speak. The whole person seemed to be controlled by someone suddenly, only looking at the purple-clothed woman before him with dull eyes.

Seeing the shopkeeper's appearance, the purple-clothed woman revealed a smile of satisfaction and asked softly: "Is the owner of your shop surnamed Liu?"

"Yes!"

"Where is she now? Take me to find her?"

"..."

Half an hour later, on a barren mountain outside "Chiyan Market."

Seeing the purple-clothed woman who had just gone to the market return, the white-clothed woman who stayed in place hurriedly asked: "How is it? Did you find out anything?"

Hearing this, the purple-clothed woman shook her head lightly: "That girl went out to travel a few months ago, and I couldn't find her. Later, I made some commotion outside the market and brought some things back.

It is estimated that in a while, someone will take the initiative to come to the door. These Qi Condensation cultivators don't know much. Later, I will catch a Foundation Establishment cultivator and ask, and I should have some gains."

"Now that things haven't been figured out, there is no need to make it so troublesome. Since I can't find that girl, I can only go and ask face to face. I just sent a letter to Senior Brother Wu. When he comes over, we will go to Mount Funiu together!"

Hearing this, the purple-clothed woman bowed with a smile: "Senior Sister, rest assured. They are just a few juniors. I know the gravity and there won't be any trouble.

Now it is not certain whether the Song family has anything to do with this matter. If we go rashly, I am afraid there will be danger. It is better to inquire about the news first, and then go find them, which can be more stable."

Just when the two women were talking on the mountain, a streak of sword light suddenly flew up from "Chiyan Market" and flew toward the direction of the small mountain.

"The prey is here! Senior Sister, wait a moment. I will catch him over immediately."

Seeing that the sword light not far away was obviously a Foundation Establishment cultivator, a wicked smile appeared on the corner of the purple-clothed woman's mouth, and then her escape light flashed and disappeared from the spot.

Seeing this, the white-clothed woman did not stop her, only shook her head lightly in place. — "Mount Funiu," in the Song family's Pill Refining Pavilion.

Huang Siyuan, who was organizing the spirit herbs needed for pill refining, suddenly received a sound transmission from outside. After frowning, she walked out of the pill refining room where she had been in seclusion.

"Yuanfang, what happened at Chiyan Market!"

Seeing Huang Siyuan before him, Song Yuanfang, who was still holding a sound-transmitting talisman in his hand, hurriedly replied: "Reporting to the Chen Chen Laozu, I just received a letter sent by Yuanxu. Xuanyu suddenly disappeared outside the market.

Earlier, someone was making trouble outside the market, and Xuanyu took people to handle it. As a result, she didn't return for half an hour. Yuanxue sent people to look around outside the market a few times but didn't find her figure, which is why she sent a letter to inform me.

I just went to look at Xuanyu's life tablet, and there was no problem. I don't know what is going on."

Hearing Song Yuanfang's explanation, Huang Siyuan's face was somewhat solemn: "Could it be that demonic cultivators are making trouble again? My husband went to Mount Guyang and hasn't returned yet. We had better not go rashly, so as not to fall into the ambush of those demonic cubs. Yuanfang, you send a letter to Yuanxue, let her open the formation and guard the market first.

I will go to Mount Guyang personally and will be back in at most two hours. Yuanfang, you open the formation and guard the family well, and do not let anyone take advantage of the loophole."

Back then, when Song Qingming and Huang Siyuan were both away, Song Qingyu, who was left alone to guard the family spirit mountain, was almost ambushed by a Jin Dan demonic cultivator.

Hearing that Song Xuanyu suddenly disappeared, Huang Siyuan thought of similar things for no reason. After thinking about it, she did not go out to take risks casually and chose a more stable method.

After entrusting Song Yuanfang with a few words, Huang Siyuan immediately arrived outside the "Pill Refining Pavilion" and summoned her flying boat, but in a moment, she turned into a streak of light and left "Mount Funiu."

Before Huang Siyuan could walk out of Qinghe County, she saw a streak of light flying from ahead. Seeing the person clearly, her face was suddenly happy, and she controlled the flying boat under her feet to take the initiative to lean toward the person.

"Siyuan! Why did you come here? Could it be that something happened at home?"

Song Qingming, who had just rushed back from "Mount Guyang," was surprised to see Huang Siyuan appear halfway and hurriedly asked.

Seeing Song Qingming, Huang Siyuan immediately told him about what happened at "Chiyan Market" before and the worries in her heart.

"In that way, Xuanyu might have been restrained. To be able to subdue him so easily, this person's cultivation base is probably not low, at least a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. It is also possible that a Jin Dan cultivator has arrived here, then it is even more necessary to go meet him."

"Husband, this matter is somewhat strange. If we go rashly, I am afraid it will be very dangerous. Why not go to the sect and invite a few helpers? It can also be safer."

Seeing Song Qingming, while speaking, was about to control the flying boat to directly turn direction and go to "Chiyan Market," Huang Siyuan immediately opened her mouth to stop him.

"It is just the disappearance of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. We haven't figured out the situation yet, so how can we rashly go to the sect to move reinforcements? If it gets out, people will laugh at us.

Please rest assured, I am now a late-stage Jin Dan cultivator. There are not many Jin Dan cultivators who can defeat me now. Even if I can't beat the other party, it is not difficult to retreat to "Mount Funiu," which is not far away."

"Alright! I will go with you." Seeing that Huang Siyuan was somewhat worried about him, Song Qingming immediately agreed and then took her together to "Chiyan Market" to investigate this matter.

Qinghe County to "Chiyan Market" is less than a thousand li apart. The two took the "Phantom Boat" and rushed at full speed for only a quarter of an hour before they arrived outside the market gate.

At this time, because of the disappearance of Song Xuanyu, "Chiyan Market" had already closed its doors and imposed martial law, and even the market's protective mountain formation had been fully opened, looking like it was facing a great enemy and waiting in full battle array.

Just as Song Qingming and the other arrived at the market entrance, the gate was immediately opened from inside. Immediately after, Song Yuanxue, with a somewhat nervous face, walked out from inside with dozens of market law enforcement team cultivators.

"Seventh Grand-Uncle, greets the Chen Chen Laozu!"

Song Qingming looked at the crowd, nodded slightly, and asked: "Where did Xuanyu disappear? Have you searched everywhere?"

"Reporting to Seventh Grand-Uncle, earlier someone was making trouble outside the market and snatched a magic treasure from a law enforcement team cultivator. Xuanyu heard the news and took people to chase in the direction the person fled, right at that small mountain to the east. Unexpectedly, after Xuanyu went over, she lost news not long after. The law enforcement team cultivators who followed her only saw her cross a mountain ridge and suddenly disappear. I searched for a long time but didn't find Xuanyu's trace."

"Later, I sent people to search nearby twice, but there was still no news, which is why I sent a letter home!"

Hearing Song Qingming's question, Song Yuanxue hurriedly said everything that happened before, and there seemed to be a hint of worry for Song Xuanyu on her face.

Song Qingming nodded slightly upon hearing this and immediately ordered the crowd: "Xuanyu's life tablet is still fine now. I am afraid there are high-tier demonic cultivators making trouble nearby."

"Yuanxue, you immediately organize the people of the law enforcement team and go to the place where Xuanyu disappeared to search again. Tell them to be careful."

"Siyuan, you follow behind them and go take a look there. I will try the bloodline spirit-seeking technique first to see if Xuanyu is still nearby."

After hearing Song Qingming's arrangement, Song Yuanxue took the crowd and immediately set off, going to the small mountain slope where Song Xuanyu disappeared again to search for her traces bit by bit.

Song Qingming found a cultivator with a bloodline close to Song Xuanyu in the market, took some of his essence blood, and began to cast a spell to try to use the "Bloodline Spirit-Seeking Technique" he learned back then to find Song Xuanyu's figure.

"Bloodline Spirit-Seeking Technique" will consume the cultivator's essence blood, which will have some impact on ordinary Qi Condensation cultivators.

However, this clansman of the Song family before him is just a four-spirit-root cultivator with average aptitude. Hearing the family Chen Chen Laozu say that the family would compensate him with one hundred spirit stones later, the nervousness on his face immediately disappeared, and he directly cast a spell to force out a large drop of essence blood from his body.

Seeing this, Song Qingming immediately raised his hand to release a yellow spirit talisman to wrap it up. Subsequently, with a flash of spiritual light in Song Qingming's hand, the spirit talisman was instantly ignited and burned into a pile of ashes.

Looking at the cyan smoke emanating from the ashes before him, drifting toward the vicinity of the small mountain where Song Yuanxue and the others were searching, Song Qingming's face instantly became somewhat serious.

"Actually daring to hide nearby, it seems the courage is really not small!"

Just as Song Qingming finished speaking, he was about to follow the cyan smoke to find the location of Song Xuanyu, but unexpectedly, just after he walked not far, a fierce sound of fighting came from the other side of the small mountain.

Seeing this, Song Qingming's face changed, and he hurriedly took out the "Phantom Boat," turning into a streak of light and rushing over.

Just arriving near the battlefield, Song Qingming saw Huang Siyuan in mid-air holding the "Purple Jin Yin" and a cyan-green Ruyi magic treasure, fighting against a strange purple-clothed woman surrounded by several floating ribbons.

Not far beside her, there was also a mouse that was trying hard to spray fire, entangled with a python that was also entirely crimson.

Below, Song Yuanxue and the others, facing the scene of this Jin Dan battle, could only stand far to the side to watch the battle and did not dare to get too close.

After Huang Siyuan's cultivation base broke through to the third layer of Jin Dan, she obtained a third-tier mid-quality defensive magic treasure "Jade Green Ruyi" at the "Star Assembly" auction in the Wu Kingdom last time.

Her fighting strength now is no weaker than ordinary fourth-layer Jin Dan cultivators outside.

However, her opponent, that purple-clothed woman, has already reached the peak of the fifth layer of Jin Dan, and her magical powers and means are much stronger than Huang Siyuan's.

Even facing the fierce attack of Huang Siyuan's "Purple Jin Yin" magic treasure, the purple-clothed woman still looked as usual, and the ribbon magic treasure in her hand appeared to be at ease facing Huang Siyuan's attack, easily blocking it.

Although Huang Siyuan used all her means from the start and did not hold back, after fighting dozens of rounds with this purple-clothed woman, she still fell somewhat into a disadvantage.

The spirit beast "Red Flame" on the side, facing that red python, also did not take any advantage and wanted to go over to help Huang Siyuan but was tightly entangled by the other party and could not break free.

Seeing this situation, Song Qingming, who had just arrived at the battlefield, had a flash of spiritual light on his body and immediately summoned his natal magic treasure "Five Star Divine Light Mirror" to join the battlefield to support Huang Siyuan.

Seeing the "Five Star Divine Light Mirror" under Song Qingming's control, it directly turned into five giant copper mirrors of different colors, directly from five directions toward the purple-clothed woman who was fighting against Huang Siyuan. Seeing the "Five Star Divine Light Mirror" that suddenly appeared all around, her brows furrowed, and she immediately lost the ease she had just now.

She hurriedly took out a cyan flag magic treasure from her body, cast a spell to release a gust of wind to block one of the copper mirrors, and with this gap, the purple-clothed woman instantly moved to dozens of zhang away, breaking free from the encirclement of the "Five Star Divine Light Mirror."

Seeing that this woman still had such a powerful magic treasure on her body, a hint of surprise appeared on Song Qingming's face, and he immediately controlled the "Five Star Divine Light Mirror" to change direction and pursue the purple-clothed woman again.

Seeing Song Qingming come to support, Huang Siyuan's face was suddenly happy, and she hurriedly took the magic treasure to take the initiative to chase up, wanting to help entangle that purple-clothed woman.

Just when the three were fighting fiercely here, a streak of black escape light suddenly flew from mid-air and landed beside the purple-clothed woman, turning into a middle-aged man with a somewhat weathered face.

After this middle-aged man arrived, he directly extended one hand to release a huge black brick, which hit Song Qingming's natal magic treasure "Five Star Divine Light Mirror" and directly shook it back.

"Ninth-layer Jin Dan cultivator!"

Seeing the black-clothed man who suddenly appeared, Song Qingming immediately furrowed his brows. Just when he wanted to see the other party's face clearly, a somewhat familiar voice had already entered Song Qingming's ears.

"Fellow Daoist Song, I am Wu Xiang of the Hundred Flowers Palace. It has been many years, you should still remember me!"

After hearing this voice, Song Qingming looked at the other party carefully again before casting a spell to summon back the "Five Star Divine Light Mirror" not far away.

Huang Siyuan, seeing this, also took back her magic treasure and called back the "Red Flame" that was still entangled with the red python not far away.

This black-clothed man named Wu Xiang was the Jin Dan elder of the Hundred Flowers Palace whom Song Qingming met on the way when he went to visit He Mengxin in the East Sea cultivation world back then.

Because more than fifty years had passed, the other party's cultivation and appearance had undergone some changes, which was why Song Qingming could not recognize him at the first moment.

However, although he recognized the other party, Wu Xiang, as an elder of the Hundred Flowers Palace, suddenly appeared here at "Chiyan Market" and might have something to do with the disappearance of Song Xuanyu, Song Qingming also did not dare to let go of the guard in his heart.

The "Five Star Divine Light Mirror" was still circling around him and did not rush to take it back into his body.

"Fellow Daoist Wu, why is it you? Is this fellow Daoist here with you?" Song Qingming replied to Wu Xiang, then looked at the purple-clothed woman to the side somewhat puzzled.

Wu Xiang, seeing this, nodded slightly to acknowledge his relationship with the purple-clothed woman and said with a hint of a smile: "Fellow Daoist Song, don't misunderstand. Junior Sister Han is also an elder of our sect and came with me this time."

"Junior Sister Han was just impulsive just now and had no malice. I hope Fellow Daoist Song will be magnanimous and not misunderstand us because of this."

Seeing Wu Xiang and that purple-clothed woman singing in harmony, saying in a few words that what had just happened was a small misunderstanding, Song Qingming and Huang Siyuan were both somewhat unhappy and did not easily believe the other party's words.

"Whether it is a misunderstanding, I naturally have my own judgment, no need for you to say more. You two secretly sneaked into my Song family's territory and also took away my family's junior by force. What is your intention?"

"Although your Hundred Flowers Palace is a Nascent Soul major sect, this is not the East Sea cultivation world. If you don't give Song a satisfactory explanation today, this matter will absolutely not end like this!"

Facing Wu Xiang and this purple-clothed woman, although Song Qingming and Huang Siyuan's cultivation was a bit lower than the other party, they were not afraid of them.

Although the Song family is only a Jin Dan immortal clan, it also has the "Xiaoyao Sect," a Nascent Soul sect, behind it. As long as Song Qingming sends a sound-transmitting talisman to Mount Guyang, he can immediately summon reinforcements from the sect.

Seeing that Song Qingming did not let go of the guard in his heart because of his appearance, Wu Xiang's face was also helpless, and he hurriedly cast a spell to send a secret sound transmission to Song Qingming privately.

Hearing the sound transmission sent by Wu Xiang, Song Qingming, who was standing in place, suddenly had a somewhat complex look on his face.

After pondering for a moment, Song Qingming said a word to Huang Siyuan beside him, letting her take people back to "Chiyan Market" first, while he himself stayed in place.

Huang Siyuan heard Song Qingming let her go back first, but she was still somewhat worried. It was not until Song Qingming explained a word to her that she nodded and took Song Yuanxue and the others to withdraw first.

After everyone else in the Song family had left, Wu Xiang, who was standing in front, smiled and said to Song Qingming: "Fellow Daoist Song, the Saintess is now at the foot of the mountain. You will understand what is going on when you see her later!"

After Wu Xiang finished speaking, he nodded slightly to Song Qingming, then took the purple-clothed woman to fly to the foot of the mountain first. Song Qingming, seeing this, immediately followed behind.

Before long, Song Qingming followed Wu Xiang and the two to a grassy area at the foot of the mountain and saw a white-clothed woman who had already been waiting here.

This white-clothed woman was wearing a veil on her face and could not see her face clearly. Not far beside her stood a young woman wearing a cyan long dress, who was exactly the Foundation Establishment elder of the Song family who had disappeared before, Song Xuanyu.

Seeing Song Qingming come, the white-clothed woman nodded slightly and took the initiative to bow to him with a smile.

"Fellow Daoist Song, it has been many years, I hope you have been well."

The voice was ethereal and very moving. Although he could not see the face hidden under the veil of the other party, Song Qingming recognized her at a glance.

Seeing Song Qingming arrive, the woman in white slightly bowed her head and took the initiative to smile and salute him.

"Fellow Daoist Song, it has been many years; I trust you have been well."

Her voice was ethereal and very moving to the ear; although he could not clearly see the face hidden beneath her veil, Song Qingming recognized her at a glance.

This woman in white was Xia Mo, the "Saintess of the Hundred Flowers Palace," who had come to "Mount Funiu" with He Mengxin years ago and had explored the Nascent Soul cave dwelling in the Yue Kingdom with him and Song Qingyu.

"Song Mou greets Fairy Xia Mo!" (End of chapter)